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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) independence from external political influence is crucial to the agency’s mission of protecting consumers, 10 groups told a court today in an amicus brief filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

The groups are Public Citizen, Americans for Financial Reform, Center for Responsible Lending, Consumer Action, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Consumer Law Center, National Consumers League, National Fair Housing Alliance, Tzedek DC, and U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund.

In the case, CFPB Deputy Director Leandra English is appealing the trial court’s denial of a preliminary injunction allowing her to serve as acting director of the CFPB while litigation proceeds over the lawful acting director—herself or U.S. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. In their amicus filing, the groups explain that the public interest supports English serving as the acting director while the court further considers the legal issues.

“Financial regulators, like the CFPB, are supposed to be independent so that they can do their job free from political influence. In this case, the public interest is served by following the clear statutory language—the CFPB’s Deputy Director, Leandra English, is the agency’s Acting Director,” said Mike Landis, Litigation Director for U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

U.S. PIRG Education Fund is an independent, non-partisan group that works for consumers and the public interest. Through research, public education and outreach, we serve as counterweights to the influence of powerful special interests that threaten our health, safety or well-being.